How to Choose the Best Material for Outdoor Furniture

Choosing the best material for outdoor furniture is a matter of research and education. You have to know how materials compare in terms of price, durability, and of course looks. Outdoor furniture is made from different materials, each one having its own pros and cons.

In order to decide which is the best patio furniture material for your home, you’ll need to consider a few key areas. You can also see which material checks all the boxes with the checklist below.

Outdoor Furnishing Material Checklist

Things to Consider When Purchasing Patio Furniture

Aesthetics

Durability

Weather Conditions

Functionality

Types of Materials

The following will show you how to choose patio furniture. I’ll give you the main ideas and a quick run-down on each material. Also listed are additional links for more in-depth information on each of these materials. I highly suggest reading further into areas you’re interested in.

Synthetic Resin

People always confuse synthetic resin wicker furniture with “rattan.” You can learn about the difference between wicker and rattan in my other post. Typically woven in a wicker weave, synthetic resin patio furniture is stylish, low-maintenance, lightweight, and highly durable.

Synthetic resin is one of the best materials for outside furniture. Always purchase High Density Polyethylene(HDPE) Wicker and not cheap PVC wickers. PVC synthetics will unravel, become brittle, and crack. HDPE is a much higher grade of material. If you’ve heard of bad experiences with synthetic resins, it’s probably because the furniture was made from low-quality PVC plastic. Synthetic resin wicker is very light-weight and it’s easy to clean.

It must be noted, most synthetic resin furnishings are constructed on an aluminum frame. For this reason, the strength of synthetic resin outdoor furniture is very closely intertwined with aluminum outdoor furniture. Harmonia Living actually makes sectionals that feature thicker, commercial grade aluminum frames that use a larger gauge of aluminum.

Teak

Teak is the best wood for patio furniture hands down. It’s often touted for its all-weather capabilities, strength, and beautiful grained finish. It produces its own oil so this is what makes it unique to other types of naturally occurring woods. It’s also a hardwood so it’s surface is very strong. You won’t get any dings or dents in it.

Teak lasts up to 50 years in comparison to other woods like pine or cedar that have to be stored in the winter season. Teak makes for a great outdoor dining tabletop or it can for armrests on outdoor chairs. It’s not quite as light as aluminum patio furniture but it’s still very mobile while offering a higher load capacity.

Make sure you learn how to take care of teak furniture before making a purchase. Some people do not like the intensive upkeep that is required (that is if you don’t want it to turn into a Silvery Patina). Wood can absorb moisture leading to rot, mildew, and mold so you have to take care of it.

Cast Aluminum

Cast aluminum patio furniture is a wonderful material because it lightweight and durable. Situations where you should avoid aluminum patio furniture is when you live in areas that experience high wind gusts. Not to worry if you do, there are ways to keep outdoor furniture from blowing away.

Cast aluminum is a lot stronger than you might think. Cast aluminum is the best outdoor material for chairs because dining chairs must be moved in and out during seating. In many cases, aluminum outdoor furniture offers more than enough support. Be wary, quality varies among manufacturers so make sure you purchase from a reputable brand. You can find out which ones are recommended by reading below. More on Cast Aluminum Patio Furniture.

Wrought Iron

Wrought iron is a historical outdoor furnishing material. The term “wrought” actually means that it was “worked by hand.” This differs from “cast” iron which is made using molds. Wrought Iron is the best material for outdoor furniture if you desire uniqueness and handcrafted designs. One thing to consider, however, is that wrought iron is much heavier than aluminum. Read this to learn more about Wrought Iron Patio Furniture.

Steel

Steel is actually iron with carbon mixed in it to add strength and resistance to rust. Steel is the strongest material by far but it is also the heaviest and also more expensive. You don’t want to use steel materials for things like dining chairs or side tables that will be moved often. Also, steel can rust if not properly coated.

Although steel is very strong, there isn’t really a need for this much support. For all intents and purposes, aluminum will do just fine unless you plan on furnishing a home for an NFL team with 300 pound guys. The others above offer more than enough strength and support without going overboard and costing you more money. Here’s an example of a great steel option!

Best Fabric For Outdoor Furniture

This is a bit of a tangent from my main focus but I feel its pertinent to the process. I always, always recommend Sunbrella Fabrics. They are the best outdoor materials you can find and they use Tenara® Sewing Threads. Sunbrella originally made materials for marine boats and then applied this same technology to outdoor furniture. Watch what happens when this 3 year old dirt-caked sofa is cleaned with a pressure washer.

Sunbrella custom cushions are available in throw pillows, bolsters, and replacement sofa cushions.

Looking for metal furniture? Stick with aluminum unless you want an eclectic design. In that case, wrought iron will likely offer more ornate options.

Below is a list of materials that I would strongly suggest avoiding:

Plastic Resin – Plastic resin is cheap, flimsy, unattractive, and fragile. Only good for temporary use.

PVC Wicker – PVC wicker LOOKS like HDPE Wicker but when you find out what it’s really made of, you’ll see that it is not the best material to be used on outdoor furniture. Not only that, it is not recyclable like HDPE Wicker.

Bare Metals – Bare metals will rust when exposed to rain and moisture. Make sure that any furniture you purchase is coated with a rust-proofing material.

Where to Buy Outdoor Patio Furniture

There are many companies claiming to have the “best prices” but you can rest assured that’s just what you’re getting. Patio Productions’Lowest Price Guarantee means that they’ll match or beat any advertised price by up to 10%! You can browse online, place your order, and receive FREE SHIPPING to your home! Oh, and there’s No Sales Tax if you live outside of California!

About the AuthorCheryl Khan is able to lend insight on this topic after spending years in the design field. She has learned that all outdoor furniture is not the same and always advised clients to seek the very best patio furniture. She never gives advice she wouldn’t use herself.

Thanks for the info and pics! We live on the gulf and are trying to decide on a durable and low maintenance material for the salt air. We are currently looking at C.R Plastics. Do you have any advise or information on C.R. Plastics or on choosing outdoor material for the salt air?
Thank you!

If you’re looking for something durable and low maintenance, recycled plastics are a smart choice, whether it’s C.R. Plastics or Polywood. Both offer excellent warranties, with CR Plastics typically having a 10 year residential warranty and Polywood going a bit further with a 20 year residential warranty. Some recycled plastic products are so durable, they offer limited lifetime warranties.

Pay close attention to the hardware material, the nuts and bolts that hold everything together. You want to make sure the hardware is made from a rust resistant material such as stainless steel. Especially considering your proximity to the ocean.

Another benefit to consider is that furniture made from recycled plastics has weight and won’t be blown around easily from strong winds, which is good next to the ocean.

I had no idea that teak furniture could last up to 50 years! That is definitely something that we will have to look into while we are looking for outdoor furniture. We are really excited to pull our patio together so hopefully these tips can help us find the right fit. Thanks for sharing!

I liked how you said that you should consider the aesthetics and durability for your patio furniture. You also said that the types of materials will also be determined by where and how the furniture is being used. I think it’s important to choose patio furniture that has cushions that can be washed to keep it clean.

We completely agree. This is the reason we recommend Sunbrella fabrics when that option is available. Sunbrella is an extremely durable and can even be washed with bleach without losing color. When shopping, check to see that the cushions have zippers for removing the foam core. This makes washing a breeze!

thank you for all your infor. I have a patio that is facing west and over the years I cannot find a good shade for the outdoor furniture. I saw your rec on the 12’x12′ pavilion cover Treasure Gardens looks like a good solution but they no longer sell that. I am wondering where would you rec me to find something like that? and It will be set on just concrete on my patio. Thank you so much!

I appreciate the information and chart you’ve shared showing the pros and cons of each type of material for outside furniture. I think a lot of this applies just as well to street furniture as far as durability. It’s important for businesses to understand how adding some street furniture out front can attract and retain visitors to your property. Understanding the benefits of each material can help you get the most long-lasting results out of that.

If you’re set on getting metal furniture for your outdoor space, the lighter the color the better. Lighter colors reflect more heat than darker colors.

Otherwise we would also recommend considering synthetic resin furniture. Plastic wicker furniture made from HDPE is UV resistant and can withstand high temperatures as well as cracking and peeling. It’s also much more comfortable to the touch when exposed to direct sunlight.

I like the fact that synthetic resin could be so lightweight and easy to clean. My wife and I have been planning on making a comfortable outdoor area. I definitely think that we should focus on getting some comfortable low maintenance outdoor furniture.

My wife and I have been dreaming about our perfect patios for a while, and I think we’re finally going to get it done this year. I’m going to be looking for patio furniture once we get it done though, and I like the cast aluminium furniture! I’m going to have to talk to my wife about what she wants to decorate the patio with, and see what some options could be for us!

I completely agree with you in that it is important to make sure you consider the type of weather you have before buying outdoor furniture. It is understandable that considering this can help you find a material that will last the cold of winter and the heat of summer. As I see it, taking the time to research this can help you save time when looking for the best stores where you can get the type of items you need to add beauty and comfort to your property.

I didn’t realize how important it is to evaluate the weather conditions of your area and aesthetics when choosing a material for outdoor furniture. My sister just bought a home that has a nice patio in the backyard. Hopefully, these tips can help her choose a furniture set that will allow her to entertain guests in comfort.

Absolutely. There are certain materials that hold up better in specific climates and others that don’t. So it’s good to be aware of what works best in your area.

Incorporating the look and feel of your natural surroundings into the design of your outdoor space is a great way of creating a seamless outdoor space that feels like a natural extension of your environment.

Thank you for all this great information about choosing the right outdoor patio furniture! I really like your point about wrought iron being handmade and it’s going to provide a unique design while being able to hold up to the natural elements. My husband and I want to get our new patio up to par, so we can start having parties, so your article has been very helpful.

It was nice how you weighed the pros and cons of the different types of materials that can be considered for the outdoor furniture. What appealed to me the most, however, was the cast aluminum iron. Like you said, it’s the best option for outdoor furniture because it offers more than just seating support. Maybe I should mention that to my parents because they were the ones who want to decorate the garden and a stool was one of the things that they’re considering. Thank you for the ideas. I’ll be sure to mention this to them.

It was great that I came across this article because I learned all about the teak and how it’s the best wood for outdoor furniture because of its weather resistance ability and hardwood surface that makes it strong. My mom did say that she wants to use wood for the outdoor furniture. It might be a good idea to suggest this to her so as to have a basis when she redecorates the garden next season. Thank you!

Thank you for your comment. Teak is a wonderful wood for outdoors and it is as durable as it is beautiful. However, teak does require regular up-keep so it’s important to keep that in mind. And the more intricate the design of the furniture, the longer it takes to do things like sand it down or apply a sealer.

Thanks for this informative article. My cousin simply bought a home that encompasses a nice terrace within the grounds. Hopefully, the following tips will facilitate his select a piece of furniture set that may enable her to entertain guests in comfort.

Really appreciate this information. We are considering the Gensun Amari Cushion line. Have not been able to find it in a store. Do you happen to know what is the seat base made of. I’m talking about the seat under the cushion. Thanks.

Thank you for your comment. Unfortunately, we have had Gensun products in our showroom before but not any from that particular collection. It’s hard to tell from the images they provide on their website, but they should have images of the frame alone (without a cushion) somewhere in their database. We no longer have a relationship with Gensun, otherwise I would be glad to reach out to them on your behalf. Here is their customer service e-mail: customerservice@gensuncasual.com

I’m sure they would be able to provide you with the information you need.

I love the resin wicker furniture is durable. I’ve been wanting to get some outdoor furniture, so it’s great to learn all about the different materials. I’ll share this with my family so we can choose the best material for our home.

It was really nice when you said that because the word “wrought” means “made by hand,” they are perfect if the person is after durable furniture pieces that have unique designs. I will mention this to my mom so that she has an option for when she replaces the old pieces that we are using in the garden. I am confident that this will get her attention since she mentioned wanting to make her place look personalized and unique. Thank you for this!

We want to put our sunroom furniture outside on our screened porch. It is rattan. Does rattan hold up in humidity? We live in North Carolina and the humidity gets oppressive here in the summer. Would we be better off selling it instead?
Thank you.
Victoria

Rattan is not meant to be used outdoors for the long term under any condition. Rattan, just like most natural materials, is going to degrade much faster outdoors vs indoors. This might confuse some people because rattan furniture is seen being used outdoors in old photographs. The thing is, people liked using their rattan furniture outdoors, but it wouldn’t be kept outdoors. People would take the furniture out just for the day and then bring it back inside. It would never be kept outdoors.

It was really informative when you said that low quality plastic resin is low on durability and that it is best to choose a high-density Polyethelyne when deciding to go for a plastic furniture. I guess it really is quite durable since it lasted a while, though the outdoor furniture that we’re using now is a bit scratched. It’s otherwise okay though. That is the reason why I think it will be a good idea to just have it repaired. Thanks.

It sure got me when you said that cast aluminum is a good metal to use outdoors as long as the place is not windy because it’s durable and lightweight. If so, then I might consider this for the pavilion that we will have built. This is because we plan to make it movable so that we can take it to any part of the garden, and if want to be able to move it, it has to be lightweight.

Wow! I never knew why teak is a popular choice for outdoor furniture, and now that I know that it secretes oils in order to keep it sturdy and beautiful, it reminded me of something. My wife wants to plan our house’s summer renovation early and I will be glad to let her read this article for her. In the meantime, I will help her by finding chair stores that would not only assure us of a great looking house but one that can last years as well.

This is really a nice post because anyone can learn How to Choose the Best Material for Outdoor Furniture . I really gained knowledge about vinyl fence styles is best for house yard and its give protection around the house.